Quaker Oats May Sell
Its Beverage Business

By

Richard Gibson and

Nikhil Deogun Staff Reporters of The Wall Street Journal

Updated Dec. 13, 1996 12:02 a.m. ET

The long wait may be over for Quaker Oats investors.

Quaker is seeking to sell its crown jewel, Gatorade sports drink, to get rid of what some see as its fool's gold, Snapple juices and teas. The beverage industry is abuzz with word that several big companies are weighing bids for Quaker's entire beverages business, both Gatorade and Snapple, with prices between $3 billion and $4 billion.